The sometimes quirky, never predictable and most times weird adventures of chick lit heroine, Vanessa Virtue, as penned by author Marley Gibson. For more information, please visit http://www.marleygibson.com
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Friday, July 15, 2005

Urban adventures and cool places to go...

Vanessa here...

Wow...what a fun blog day we had yesterday, eh? Thanks to everyone who posted their random thoughts! Keep it up, if you'd like. It's fun!

So, today -- being Friday and almost the weekend, baby! -- I thought I'd try another list of sorts. Being a city gal (and an Air Force brat), I've been around to many places and have had many adventures. You don't have to hop a flight to Rome just to have an adventure (although that would be nice), rather here are some of my top urban adventures and other cool places to go...

Central Park: A walk through, a rollerblade through, go ice skating, just sit by the pond and think. Have a picnic, take a date, make out...anything. It's Central Park! I just think that it's amazingly cool that in the sprawl of buildings and people that is Manhattan, there's this gorgeous, well-kept park in the middle that once you step inside, the entire city disappears. It's amazing. It's inexpensive (well, you have to actually get to New York) and fun for the whole family.

Rocky Mountain National Park: Rent a car (a Jeep Cherokee is nice) and just start at Estes Park and work your way all the way up to the top of the mountain. There, you'll find flowers and elk and chipmunks and lakes and vistas for the eye. I had a cloud pass through me. An actually cloud. It was the coolest thing ever. It was like a chilling vapor around me...and then absolute calm and crispness. Amazing. Then, on your way down the mountain, be sure to stand on the Great Divide.

Biking in San Francisco: Had a friend who did this. Rented a bike at Fisherman's Wharf and biked all around the city, through the Presidio (now owned by George Lucas), around by the beach and water, up through the National Park, up the hill to the Golden Gate Bridge, cross it and coast down the hill into Sausalito and take the ferry back. Not a bad way to spend the afternoon.

The Eiffel Tower: Okay, sure it's cliched that allegedly this is where TomKat got engaged, but I have to say it's the most magnificent view a top the world. You ride these ancient elevators to the middle, where the view is phenomenal, and then take a second elevator all the way to the top where you feel like you're dancing in the clouds. Sure, Tom Cruise wasn't there to propose to me (I was with my parents), but that's okay. You can literally see ALL of France, it's fucking amazing.

Swimming with Dolphins: Well, I haven't done this yet, but it's on the list. I do know people who have done it and they said it was a religious experience. That the animals were so gentle and nice and the interaction was fantastic. They do trick for you, give kisses, give you a ride and just enjoy the company. After all, they're warm-blooded mammals, too.

Miami Beach: A walk down Ocean Drive in South Beach, surrounded by the sizzle of salsa music, the heat from the beach and the veritable potpourri of nationalities of visitors really helps you immerse yourself into the Miami Beach scene. Sure, there are the art deco hotels, wild, trendy nightclubs and celebrity watching, but there are also little restaurant jewels, memorable meals, cold drinks that warm the soul and the freedom of a Caribbean lifestyle in America. Everyone should visit there...and no, I don't work for their tourism department (although...call me!)

Dealey Plaza: It's creepy, but you must go there. You must walk around that small park, looking up at the School Book Depository, glancing around at the highway underpass, feeling that you were there on that faithful November day. And standing on Dealey Plaza, you'll know damn well, there was no way someone shot that accurately from the top of a building that far away. (Thank you, Oliver Stone, for making me paranoid.)

Nova Scotia: Can I tell you? It's just a little piece of heaven on earth. I've always wanted to go to Scotland, but haven't made it there yet. Nova Scotia is a good replica. Gorgeous beaches, picturesque villages, Halifax is a wonderful little city (go to The Five Fishermen for their all-u-can eat mussel bar) and there's plenty of night life. Also, there are nearby beaches just as good as any you'll find, there are fishing towns, charter boats, tours to see whales and puffins...anything you want to do.

Washington, DC: Sure, everyone's parents drug them to Washington, DC, when you were a kid, but did you really appreciate all DC offered? I grew up there (my dad works at the Pentagon), and let me tell you what, I took advantage of it. It's chock full of history, there are tons of museums of all sorts, but if you get into the hidden Washington, that's the fun. There's Old Towne Alexandria, where, like George and the boys got drunk and wrote documents. It's like the town is preserved. Then, there's Arlington...which you could spend an entire day in, just walking and thinking and having introspection. And my favorite, the special tour of the Capitol. I had a friend who worked on the Hill and with her ID, she used to get us in the secret passage ways underneath and showed us the catacomb where the scaffolding that holds coffins when presidents lie in state is stored. (Creepy, yet cool.)

The Magnificent Mile: Shopping Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago is something any girl with fashion sense and a credit card should experience. A mile of stores stretching out down the street, full of people and restaurants and clothes and shoes and everything imaginable. Be sure to stop in The Chop House for the best damn steak you'll ever eat in your life and then make your way down to Navy Pier with your purchases and ride the Ferris wheel. An urban adventurer's dream.

Well, there you go...just a few fun things I can think of. Makes me want to go home, pack my bags and get the next plane out of Logan...going anywhere!

What are your urban adventures? What are your favorite cool places to go to? Speak up!

Carnevale in VeniceTaking the boat up the Thames to Hampton Court Palace,The view from Sacre Coeur in ParisWalking along the Promenade in Brooklyn HeightsBourbon Street in New OrleansRiding the subway in LASailing on an America's Cup Boat in the Bahamas

1. The CN Tower in Toronto and the views from there.2. Niagara Falls, especially in the wintertime when the mist freezes on the trees.3. Branson, because you just have to see it.4. Dunn's River Falls in Jamaica. I think it was featured in the movie "Cocktail"5. The arch in St. Louis - great views from there.6. Taking my newphew to the Grand Canyon. We did the donkey riding thing like they did in that Brady Bunch episode.7. Thanksgiving Day supper at my mother's house - the food is incredible and is enough to feed 200 people.8. I quite enjoyed Daytona Beach during spring break in college.9. My roommate in college went to Ibiza and said it was a hellashish party.10. Boston - walking the Freedom Trail and feeling all of the history.

Im currently living in the Northwest Territories and I gotta tell you....the beach surrounding the Great Slave Lake (south of Yellowknife) is really pretty! Plus right now there is virtually 24hours of sunlight so you can do stuff like golf at 3am!! I dont know how to post pictures on here....but if anyones interested, my blog has my contact info!